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The 2025/26 season saw a significant number of star players miss extended time due to injuries. The ESPN insider crew looked at the impending returns of those players, breaking them down by the timeline each one is facing.

Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers), Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers), Kyrie Irving (Mavericks), and Fred VanVleet (Rockets) are all set to make their returns this fall following season-long absences. Lillard will be rejoining a Blazers team that has made major changes and faces questions about how it will all come together. Haliburton and VanVleet are trying to lead their respective franchises back into title contention, while Irving will look to gel with Cooper Flagg on a Mavs team whose longer-term contention timeline could make the star point guard one of the top trade candidates at the deadline.

Steven Adams (Rockets), Dejounte Murray (Pelicans), Walker Kessler (Lakers), Joel Embiid (Sixers), Luka Doncic (Lakers), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Jazz), Trae Young (Wizards), and Jalen Williams (Thunder) all missed extended time last season, but should be ready to go in October, barring any setbacks.

Finally, there are the players who are facing longer recovery timelines, with Jimmy Butler (Warriors) being the prime example.

We have more from around the world of hoops:

• Hall of Famer Mike D’Antonian American-Italian who played and coached in Italy, is poised to join BC Roma’s board of directors, according to Alessandro Maggi of Sportando. D’Antoni’s return to Italy was facilitated by former Sixers executive Bryan Colangelowho is serving as an ownership advisor to the club and will represent the team at Italian Basketball League meetings, Maggi writes.
• After former Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas took to social media to express his interest in playing overseas, Lithuanian club BC Zalgiris teasingly invited the 37-year-old to come over and see what their in-arena experience is like (Twitter link). However, there are no signs that any serious discussions have taken place between Thomas and the team, writes Kevin Martorano for Sportando.
• Nikola Mirotic may have played his last professional game, as Martorano relays a La Razon report that the 35-year-old is considering retiring after a season in which he missed significant time for AS Monaco. Mirotic has one more year left on his deal. The 6’10” stretch-forward played five seasons in the NBA from 2014-19, mostly with the Bulls.